Monthly bulletin June 2022
Decision on traffic trial postponed again
An announcement on the future of the traffic trials in Richmond Park had been expected in May.
Although the traffic trial restrictions received widespread support in the formal consultation a year ago, The Royal Parks has announced that it has decided to extend the trials, with no changes, while it considers exactly how visitors are using new car free spaces and what can be done to ensure the continuing enjoyment of all who visit. We do not expect a further announcement until the autumn.
When the trial was announced in August 2020, we said that The Friends’ charitable objectives are to conserve and protect the peace and tranquility of the Park and to ‘limit the adverse effects of activities that damage its attributes”, and that therefore we have always been in favour of reducing through traffic, especially in a National Nature Reserve.
In our view the benefits and the public support are sufficient to implement the restrictions on a permanent basis, and we’re disappointed that this is not yet happening.
The Friends at Ham Fair – Saturday 11 June 2022
Come and visit us at Ham Fair between 11am and 4.30pm on Saturday 11 June 2022.
We will have a stall supported by a number of volunteers talking with Fair visitors about our work for Richmond Park, an exciting activity for families led by the Discoverers team and there will also be a selection of our merchandise for sale. Please tell your family, friends and anyone interested in the Friends to come along – we look forward to seeing you there!
Fishy business
Photograph © Nigel Jackman
The Pen Ponds are home to a number of fish species, namely Bream, Carp, Pike, Roach, Rudd and Tench. They are an important food source for many of the water birds in Richmond Park, including this heron with its catch of a Roach.
New funding award for The Royal Parks to help nature thrive
The Royal Parks has announced the start of a new long-term initiative, Help Nature Thrive, funded by the People’s Postcode Lottery. The funding is intended to enable the parks to become more sustainable, improve biodiversity and protect natural resources for future generations. This was launched with a short video.
The Friends’ Adopt-an-Area litter picking scheme
The Friends Adopt-an-Area litter picking scheme is accepting new volunteers again. Earlier this year we had temporarily placed new volunteers on a waiting list as we had enough volunteers given the Park’s early closing, the lower footfall and consequently far less litter to find.
We have now signed off many pupils who had volunteered in the autumn as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme and who have now completed the 3-4 months volunteering the Scheme requires. All those who had been on the waiting list have now been offered the opportunity to meet up and receive their litter picking kit.
We now have nearly 200 volunteer litter pickers. Their work remains very necessary to keep the Park clean, especially with summer approaching and the remains of cans, bottles and dog bag deposits still prevalent.
Visitor Centre
The Royal Oak © The Friends of Richmond Park
The new Friends of Richmond Park greeting cards have arrived and are on sale now at The Visitor Centre priced £2.00 including the Royal Oak by Mark Frith.
Richmond Park honey is in stock: small jars clear or set £7.50; large clear or set £12.00; and pollen enhanced £10.50.
The Field Study Nature Guides are back in stock at £3.75 each. They include Ladybirds, Bees, Birds of Prey, Butterflies, Garden birds and Tress and Fungi.
Over the Jubilee period, the Visitor Centre has photographs of the Queen’s visit to Richmond Park during her Diamond Jubilee.